First Snow

The First Snow of the Season is such an amazing event for children. I myself got excited when I heard my son say this morning, "Mom, it's SNOWING!" I jumped (okay, really it probably looked more like a roll) out of bed and looked out my window to see the snow cascading down, covering our yard and deck.

I grinned, wrapped my robe around my ever-enlarging belly, and went in to the living room to see how long it would take before Andrew begged to go outside to play in the wintery whiteness. Three minutes. Tim and I just chuckled and told Andrew to look down at what he was wearing. We are now in the stage of "pick whatever you want to wear to bed" and Andrew had chosen a short-sleeved T-shirt and pajama shorts. He laughed and laughed and we told him that after breakfast and after he was ready for church, he could go out for just a few minutes and feel the snow and play if he promised not to get too soaking wet.

Harry was eager to go out and play as well, so he and Andrew enjoyed the snow together for about five minutes before it was time for us to leave for services. As soon as we got home, he begged to go back out and this time, we had him bundle up a bit more. The snow was already melting, but he was determined to get some more use out of it before it disappeared. He tried to make a basketball-sized snowball and then attempted to make a basket....but realized after he missed that it was a one-shot kind of thing. :) It is so fun to see how delighted he can be with such a simple thing as a half an inch of snow in the yard. Kids are great.

I remember being about Andrew's age and dreaming and praying for snow so that we could go make a snowman and snow angels and go sledding. I must really be getting old because after my initial excitement this morning, I realized that I have no desire to go out and get soaking wet and be cold. I also started to worry about the roads since Tim has to drive into Oregon and back each day for work. I started thinking, "What if it is a snow day tomorrow?? Andrew has been off from school for over a week!" What happened to my "Yay, it's snowing, look how beautiful and wintery it looks" thoughts? I am feeling old and somewhat cynical. Maybe I need to spend more time with just Andrew and his childish delight will wear off on me. It's certainly worth a try. :)

Almost Eight

*SIGH*
My little boy is no longer "little". He hasn't been for a while, I realize...but being pregnant and thinking of little ones makes me remember the days when this adorable child was just a baby, looking to me to fill all of his needs.

I would love to record Andrew and put a little blurb on this site so that all of you could hear him. He cracks us up all the time. :) He loves to quote movies and would do so all day long if we let him. He loves to read and does so daily. He just finished the first Harry Potter book! Andrew also loves game systems (probably too much), and is often trying to beat some new record of his on his Gamecube. He also loves to sing and can very often be heard belting out hymns from church while in the shower. :) Basketball is still a main focus and we have spoiled him with a hoop in the hallway, a hoop in his room, and even one in the kitchen. (The kitchen one is on it's way out!!) City league basketball starts in about a week and he is practically chomping at the bit to get out on the court and show off his stuff. He is loving school this year and has a fantastic teacher who has given him great confidence while reminding him in subtle ways to be humble about his intelligence and abilities. He is such a great kid and we couldn't be prouder of him.

I watched a home video last week of Andrew when he was nearly two. I could not believe how much I had forgotten about his little personality at that age. Children change SO quickly and it is amazing what we so easily forget about their short-lived lives as babies and toddlers. I think my New Year's resolution will have something to do with putting all of those priceless videos on DVDs and making copies of those so that those brief moments will never be forgotten.

I need to try to remember that not too distant in the future, I will look back at photos like the one above and think, "Wow...look at how young he looks in this picture!" I love this age and the new interests and insights that it brings. I know that each stage of Andrew's life will have new challenges for us as parents and new excitement as well....but I love the "nearly eight" age and the sense of humor and pure delight that are so apparent in his personality. And....I know I am biased as his mother....but he is just too cute!! Praise God for kids!

Thanksgiving

This year, I feel like I have innumerable reasons to be thankful. For starters, I am incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband who goes to work at o-dark thirty five days a week and works long days so that I can stay home. I am thankful for Tim's help at home as well, which has not only saved my back, but my sanity as well! I am also incredibly thankful for my son who continues to amaze me with his humor, his intelligence, and his ability to make me smile. I am so very thankful as well for this tiny life that is growing inside of me. Our little girl is now measuring somewhere between three and four pounds and as of tomorrow, has only eight weeks until she arrives! Her movements are so strong now and she gets the hiccups several times a day. I wonder whether she will be blonde like Nathan or have dark hair like Andrew. Maybe she won't even have hair!

I am thankful most of all for God and the way He always brings my heart back to Him when I get distracted by all of the busy things of this world or by other people or material things. This sweet baby girl inside of me is a constant reminder of His tenderness towards me and creates such a great desire for me to be all the more faithful to Him. Praise God for His blessings, His wisdom, and the reminders of His love for us!